Feeding: raised bowls or not?

[grundmum68]

Hi! Can anyone tell me what the latest thinking is on the ideal feeding position of dog bowls (an old chestnut for long-time greyhound owners, probably ;D).

So... does a raised bowl increase or decrease the chances of bloat, or doesn't it make the slightest bit of difference how high the bowl is placed?

And on the subject of bloat, how much of an issue is it with greyhounds, and are there any precautions that can be taken to minimise the risk?

Thanks!

[nicky]

Hi
I'm not sure that I'm qualified to answer this but here goes
Betty has always had a raised bowl but as she is the only dog I'v had I did this as I assumed this was the right thing to do. However, my son is head kennel hand at a racing kennel and all their dogs eat out of bowls off the floor and he doesn't think their is any advantage to either way, except to say the bowl (if raised) shouldn't be too high.
Not sure if this helps at all.

[sueb]

There does seem to be differences of opinion about raising bowls and the reducing/increasing risk of bloat (although I've read more in favour than not, though have also read that to raise is now old advice). I do have mine on raised bowls and they seem comfortable with it.

Greyhounds for dummies says that although greys aren't in high risk group for bloat, they are suseptible to it and recommend feeding frequent small meals a day to help avoid it (even though not practical for most, seems the important thing is you should'nt feed all the days food in one go- my 2 have 2 meals a day). If they really gulp it down fast, you should try and slow this down (eg by food with bigger peices, so they have to chew before swallowing, or putting a large chain in the bowl, so they have to eat around it- thought that was a really good idea!)

Importantly, even moderate excercise should be avoided an hour before/after eating and strenuous excercise avoided 2 hours either side.

Hope that helps?

For those that don't know bloat is v dangerous/can be a killer and symptons include excessive salivation, stomach swelling, unsuccessful attempts to vomit, dogs getting distressed, pacing, if this is so, needs immediate vet attention!

[Deleted]

It's interesting what you say Sue regarding the breaking up of the feeding to two a day. Ted is a canine Dyson and inhales his food in no time at all. This has led him to 'bringing it back to the table' on more than one occassion. I now feed him twice a day which I find quite easy to fit in and I think he likes that as it breaks up the day for him. The chain idea is good but I have a feeling Ted would eat the chain!!!!!!

Dave

[pumalass]

I have always had my greyhound bowls on stands it's better for them to eat and drink as they have long necks, and Beau has long legs so he would have trouble eating from a bowl on the floor he would look like a giraffe or bambi.
Other breeds of dogs that I had when I was younger ate off bowls on the floor, just was told that it's better for greyhounds to have bowls higher.
Hope it helps.
Chris

[Ian]

We have raised bowls for Sean, we really started using it because when he was bending down to eat he was slipping a bit with his front legs it all being on a hard surface. But we have noted now Seans very much a senior boy (pushing on towards 11) he prefers to drink out of his raised bowl than a large ceramic bowl we have on the floor in another room. I can't comment on all these ideas relating to digestion and so on, but as a Greyhound who is on the larger and older side, a raised bowl seems to be preferable for him.